The Real West

This is an excellent series that both entertains and informs. Based on its unprecedentedly high ratings and those of the subsequent series, Civil War Journal, A&E decided to launch the History Channel. Great efforts were made by all of the many producers involved to maintain a high standard of historical accuracy. I know this for a fact because I was the Director of Photography for both series and watched every producer work on his/her show. The historians interviewed (talking heads) were pleased with the results and appeared for free in episode after episode. Many wrote letters congratulating the producers. The only "disgusted" historians were perhaps those not invited to appear, such as Roy Rogers experts from Missouri.

As a historian specializing in the old west, this series was a major disappointment. Every episode dealing with a person or event that I had personally researched was riddled with glaring errors. I am personally acquainted with several of the historians who appeared as "talking heads", and all expressed disgust with the finished productions in which they appeared. From the standpoint of historical accuracy, one might just as well watch an old Roy Rogers movie.

On the positive side, the series did feature some excellent period photographs.